Automakers Introduce Vehicles To Dream About

November 30, 1989

JAGUAR "COLLECTION ROUGE"

Jaguar Cars Inc. has introduced a limited edition of the V12-powered XJ-S coupe called the Collection Rouge.

The collection is available in signal red with color-keyed Manolia leather interior. Red piping accentuates the seats and provides contrast to the champagne-colored cut-pile carpeting. The dashboard and door panels are trimmed in hand-tooled, highly-polished elm burl veneer. Gold striping highlights the exterior.

The car has all the performance and comfort features of the normal XJ-S coupe in addition to the special Collection Rouge items.

Production is limited to about 50 per month.

The car is covered by a 36-month warranty and a road assistance plan.

The suggested selling price is $51,000, fully equipped.

MERCEDES

Two high-performance sports cars, a sedan and a station wagon with computer-controlled four-wheel drive, and extensive changes to the medium-size 300 Class lead the news from Mercedes.

The two-seat 300 SL and 500 SL are successors to the 560 SL, the first totally new Mercedes sports cars since 1972. They feature a new body/chassis unit, new engines and new front ant rea suspension. Both a fully automatic soft top, which can be raised or lowered at the touch of a button, and a removable metal hardtop come standard on the cars.

This marks the first time Mercedes has offered its sports car in North America in two versions. The 500SL features a five-liter, 32-valve V8 engine which produces 322 horsepower - giving a zero to 60 mph time of 6.2 seconds - while the 300 SL is powered by a 228-hp, three-liter 24-valve inline six.

Safety features are evident, including a rigid passenger compartment structure, anti-lock brakes and a Supplemental Restraint System with dual air bags.

The two new 300-class models, the 300 E 4Matic sedan and 300 TE 4Matic station wagon, both feature the Mercedes-Benz automatic four-wheel-drive system. These models normally operate with rear-wheel drive, automatically switching to one of three available modes of four-wheel drive when a sophisticated computer determines a need for extra traction. An instrument panel light indicates when 4Matic is engaged and ABS is fully operable with the system.

The 300 Class has been extensively changed for 1990, with the 300E 2.6 (formerly the 260E) and 300 E sedans and 300 TE station wagon gaining a new exterior appearance. Body-color side mirrors and narrow chrome trim on the front, sides and rear have been added throughout.

The 300 Class also has new seats, additional wood trim across the dash and doors, improved shoulder belt adjustment, and a new door panel design. The sunroof and side windows may now be remotely closed with the key when locking the doors or trunk. Softer leather upholstery is now used.

Air bags for driver and passenger continue as standard equipment in the 420SEL and 560SEL sedans and 560 SEC coupe as well as in the new 300SL and 500SL. Passenger air bags are optional on eight other models; driver's seat air bags have been standard for four years.

Manufacturer's suggested prices range from $31,600 to $83,500.

BMW OF NORTH AMERICA

BMW of North America has introduced the R100GS Paris-Dakar, a specially-equipped version of its popular adventure touring motorcyle, the R100GS.

It is named after the world's long est and most prestigious off-road race, the Paris-Dakar Rally, won by BMW motorcycles four times since its inception 10 years ago.

The rally begins each year in Paris and covers 10,000 miles before finishing in Dakar, Senegal, on the northwest African coast.

Competitors spend almost three weeks traversing the African desert and the winning machines must be built to withstand rigors of long-distance travel over rugged terrain.

The standard equipment of the R100GS Paris-Dakar allows its rider to extend the range and capability of the standard R100GS, by giving it greater fuel and luggage capacity.